A little bit of joy

I just have to toot my husbands horn for just a sec. Yesterday's sermon at our home church, we now call Redemption Hill, was absolutely right on and very encouraging. I am so thankful that God has walked Sean and I through this one little step at a time. One step unfolds just after we take the next step and the next. No doubt Sean is gifted in teaching and preaching Gods holy word. He remains humble through this too as he desires to do this the best he can through Christ. Yesterday we covered Philippians 1:12-18 and really thought about what it means to maintain or even just grasp joy in times of persecution and opposition. While we may not be the apostle Paul in chains in Rome we sure can take a look at what we call persecution and opposition and learn from Paul as he preached the gospel of Christ while he was chained to Roman guards facing punishment for the very thing, preaching Christ. And I sit here and complain and lose my joy over a messy house, energetic boys, and a dog that seems to always find the mud and track it in the house? What??? I can't have joy? I can't proclaim Jesus to my two most important little men because I am too busy fussing?? Over what??? Geesh! Reality check on what this life really is suppose to be about. I must focus on Christ and share Jesus no matter my circumstance, that in turn brings joy because its the Fathers plan for us. Focus on Jesus, focus, focus, focus. Reminds me of Peter taking a step of faith out onto the water. He had to focus on Christ or he was sinking.
So thankful for God my Father and the husband he's given me, gifted in the preaching and teaching of the word. Feeling especially blessed and thankful today :)

A little catching up

The past month or so has been a moment by moment trusting in the Lord. I guess that's the only way to go, right? I went from almost panicking at the thought of hosting a sort of "church" meeting in my home to trying to figure out how to encourage and nurture the little flock God has given us. It is exciting to see what an ecclesia really is. Even more exciting is how I feel God has set each step before us before I really even realize that is what our need is. This brings me back to the thought of Gods complete and sovereign faithfulness that I picked up on in my journey through Genesis. It is amazing to me how I think something needs to look a certain way and then realize God already has everything all planned out and when I submit to Him it goes just as He has desired for my life. That thought and realization right there makes me sigh in relief...whew thank you Faithful Father.
My journey through Acts has been so eye opening as well. I've read it before, studied it before, but never like this. This study through Acts with the help of Bible Study Fellowship has been so enlightening. Its really neat to share with Sean what I am learning and see my husband smile and think, "now God why wouldn't she listen to me when I tried to teach her these things?" But the coolest part is that my husband is happy for me that I am learning these neat and very important truths for the edification of Christian brothers and sisters, for the ecclesia. What is even neater is that as I studied through my lesson this week and came across the question of circumcision and the difference between Jewish Christians at Antioch and Jerusalem Christians I was able to answer with complete confidence and easily recall some facts I just learned through the lesson my husband taught on this past Sunday during our "church" time. God is so good. Even in moments of panic and wonder of the unknown, God is so so good to me and shows me He is to be trusted, He is worthy of all praise, He knows what is best for me all of the time. Thank you God!